01x20 - Agent of the Eagle

[bunniefuu]

(THUNDERCLAP)

♪ Out of the night when
the full moon is bright

♪ Comes a horseman
known as Zorro

♪ This bold renegade
carves a "Z" with his blade

♪ A "Z" that stands for Zorro

♪ Zorro!

♪ The Fox so cunning and free

♪ Zorro!

♪ Who makes the sign of the "Z"!

♪ Zorro, Zorro, Zorro

♪ Zorro, Zorro ♪

I am Sergeant
Demetrio Lopez Garcia.

Do I have the honor of
addressing Don Juan Ortega,

the new Comandante for
the pueblo de Los Angeles?

Si, Sergeant. Are you
my reception committee?

Si, Capitan.

We decided against calling attention to
your arrival due to the danger involved.

That was very wise.

I understand the last
Comandante was sh*t and k*lled

the same day he
reported for duty.

Si.

We had no sooner said hello
than it was time to say goodbye.

I was supposed to meet
you at San Pedro Harbor

when your ship arrived
from Monterey, but...

But what, Sergeant?

A thousand pardons, Comandante.

You see, I am one of those
unfortunates who suffers from seasickness.

But you were only to meet
the ship, not sail aboard it.

I know, Capitan, but the mere
sight of the ocean makes me ill.

Even talking about it.

Why should the
ocean make you ill?

It is gentle, like
rocking a baby.

Si. Have you not heard it said,

"Rocked in the
cradle of the deep,

"over the gentle
ocean waves." Eh?

All right, Sergeant, let us
proceed on our way to Los Angeles,

in a direction away from...
May I say the word "ocean"?

Please, Comandante.

Rosarita.

Don Diego! How nice to see you!

Nice to see you. Are
you still in Monterey?

Yes. Father has
a ranch there now.

I doubt if we'll
ever move again.

What brings you to Los Angeles?

I arrived yesterday for a
short visit with my uncle.

Did you have a nice trip?

It was very interesting.

I traveled by ship as
far as Santa Barbara.

Uncle's carriage met me there
and brought me to his hacienda.

You know, I would not
have believed it possible,

but you are even more
lovely than I remember.

It still is Senorita?

Well, what is wrong with the men
in Monterey, they must be blind.

Diego! Have you forgotten
our childhood vows?

Vows?

(LAUGHS) That we would
marry when we grew up?

Of course, we were
very young then.

Of course. Diego,
I was wondering...

My uncle has invited a few
friends in for the evening,

a few dignitaries, but
mostly people I used to know.

Would you care to stop by?

Rosarita, in the
whole wide world,

there is nothing I would
like better than that.

This evening then, about 8:00?

About 8:00.

Adios. Adios.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

Your pardon,
Father. I, uh... Well...

I understand. She is
charming, Diego, most charming.

Shall we have some
wine? Fine, fine.

Two glasses of wine, please.

Who is the young lady?
Anyone I know or soon will know?

Rosarita Cortez.

You recall her father,
Domingo Cortez.

A fine family, good blood.
You could do much worse.

Aren't you rushing
it a little bit, Father?

I've hardly spoken a dozen words
to the young lady in ten years.

(LAUGHS) Gracias.

Salud. Salud.

What brings you to the pueblo
in the heat of the afternoon?

Oh, I've good news, Diego.

I've received a letter from my
friend in Monterey, Father Hernando.

You have heard me
speak of him? Many times.

He wrote concerning the new
Comandante, Don Juan Ortega.

Oh, he's expected
to arrive today.

I have been afraid this new one
would succeed no better than the others.

Listen, this is what
Father Hernando says.

"Don Juan Ortega is a good man.

"Kindly and fair in his
dealings with others."

That is good news.

GARCIA: Clear the way!

Make way for His
Excellency, Don Juan Ortega,

our new Comandante of
the pueblo de Los Angeles!

(HORSE WHINNIES)

Get out of the
way, you stupid fool!

He was only trying
to help, Comandante.

You mind your own
business! Open the gates!

Si, Comandante. Open
the gates. Open the gates!

Father Hernando says our
new Comandante's a kindly man?

Let's not be too
hasty in our judgment.

He may be tired from the
trip and not his usual self.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Well? Who is it?

Sergeant Garcia.
May I come in, please?

(SIGHS) Yes. Come in.

Senor Magistrado, our new
Comandante, Don Juan Ortega, is here.

Show him in.

Comandante?

The Magistrado of the
pueblo de Los Angeles,

His Excellency Carlos Galindo.

Sergeant Garcia, don't you think
you've played Comandante long enough?

Perhaps, you'd better wait
for me downstairs, Sergeant.

You have your identification
papers, Comandante?

This is all?

Might I, uh, inquire what
happened to the real Ortega?

He fell overboard shortly
after the ship left Santa Barbara.

How unfortunate.

The poor devil, he
was wearing a length

of chain around
his neck at the time.

Went straight to the bottom.

(CLUCKING TONGUE)

And this unfortunate accident,

was it entered
in the ship's log?

The captain also
carries a feather.

Good.

Magistrado, tell me.

Our leader, the one who calls
himself the Eagle, have you met him?

He's a man of mystery.

Not even his most trusted
agents know who he is.

Does it not seem strange to you

that if we are caught and
hanged, he is in the clear?

Would it make your hanging more pleasant
to know his neck is in the noose also?

It just seems strange
to me, that is all.

He pays well, doesn't he?

You like the money?

He pays well, I
do not deny that.

Then I would
suggest, Comandante,

you restrain your curiosity
and also your criticism.

I am afraid the Eagle
would not appreciate them.

Word has come, the
Eagle is disappointed

with the situation
in Los Angeles.

He is not getting enough money,

the people are not demoralized
and this outlaw, Zorro, is still at large.

I've been cursed with a succession
of incompetent Comandantes.

What I need is a strong and able
man to whip this pueblo into shape.

Magistrado, that
is why I am here.

It will not be easy.
There is not a great

deal of money among the peons.

We must find out who has it and
devise a scheme to get it away from them.

I have managed to do this
before and never found it difficult.

I'm afraid you will find there are
problems here peculiar to Los Angeles.

I have no desire to remain in your
charming pueblo for any length of time.

The longer I am here,

the more chance there is
someone will recognize me.

May I suggest, as soon as
I am settled in my quarters,

we start making definite plans?

Sergeant Garcia will
show you to your quarters.

Unfortunately, I will
be busy this evening.

Perhaps we can get together
first thing in the morning.

(MUSIC PLAYS)

(MUSIC STOPS)

A wonderful reception, Rosarita.

I'm so glad you came, Diego.

All of this would have
gone on without me,

had it not been for our
chance meeting in the plaza.

If we had not chanced to meet, we
would have chanced to meet elsewhere.

Ever since I left Monterey I've been
looking forward to seeing you again.

Ah, it is wonderful to
be young again, is it not?

Especially on nights that
are made for romance.

Are there other kinds of nights?

I'm sure you have
things to talk about

and don't welcome the
intrusion of an old man.

My apologies, Senorita.

You know, I could establish
myself as an unwelcome guest

if I completely
monopolize you, but...

Do you mind? Not at all.

But it is such a warm evening.

I think I would like
something to quench my thirst.

Allow me.

Why are neither of you dancing?

It was good of your
uncle to invite us, Senorita.

But, uh, we do not belong
with people like these.

It is nice just to sit here
and listen to the music.

You are my uncle's
guests in my uncle's home.

If he did not want you, he
wouldn't have invited you.

And since you are here, he'd
want you to enjoy his hospitality.

Oh, but we are
enjoying it, Senorita.

I have been looking for you. May
I have the honor of this dance?

I'm so sorry, Don Carlos, but
here is Diego with the refreshments.

My apologies, Senor.
Would you care to join us?

I'm sure you remember Franco
Barbaroza and his daughter?

Unfortunately, my work keeps me
involved with all classes of people.

I prefer to keep my
social life more restricted.

You will excuse us, Senorita.

I think we will get
some refreshments also.

It is a great thing to be of
proud birth, is it not, Senor?

It is a noble thing, Diego.
One should not forget it.

Oh, I agree with
you most heartily.

The only trouble is all the
credit goes to our ancestors.

Real pride belongs to people who
can make something of themselves.

Is this what you learn
from reading books, Diego?

Also from observing people.

Take a man like
Franco Barbaroza.

He started with almost nothing,

just a mud hut and
some public land.

He started as nothing,
and so far as I'm concerned,

he will always be nothing.

Just the same, he now
owns a splendid herd of cattle

and he's built a fine
home for his family.

You may not believe this,
Don Carlos, but in the last year,

Franco Barbaroza has sold almost
as many hides as has my father.

Look across the dance floor.

You may find many people
here who boast of nobler blood,

but you'll find no
one who has acquired

more by his own honest efforts.

This I did not know.

Do you or do you not
understand? I do not.

It has always been told to us
that we could live on the king's land,

that we could improve it and
someday it would belong to us.

This has all been changed.

But why should I be arrested?
I didn't do anything wrong.

I understand you
started with nothing.

A mud hut on the king's land.

So everything you have
acquired belongs to the king.

Now all we ask is 5,000 pesos.

This is not fair and
I will never pay it!

You will pay it or you'll
soon wish you had.

Well?

I sentence you to six months
at hard labor. Take him away.

(PIANO PLAYING)

A beautiful woman coming
here? Well, show her in.

Diego, I'm so glad you're home.

Rosarita. You must come with me!

Why? I've been to the pueblo.

They've arrested
Franco Barbaroza.

Why, what did he do?

Nothing. It's some ridiculous
charge of poaching on the king's land.

Just a minute. We
don't have time to talk!

Come, my carriage
is at the door.

(SLASHING SOUNDS)

Later.

(WHIP CRACKING)

(GRUNTS)

Diego, you must do
something immediately.

This may be difficult. The
Magistrado's a hard man to convince.

I shall have a talk with him.
Perhaps he will listen to reason.

The man in question was
found guilty of trespassing

and he refused to pay his fine,

so consequently, I was forced to

sentence him to six
months' hard labor.

No matter what his crime was,

he should not be whipped
and treated like an animal!

Senorita Cortez,

a lady of your position should
not interest herself in such things.

I realize that the punishment of
criminals sometimes seems harsh,

but how else can
we protect society

from thieves and
murderers who prey on us?

Begging your pardon, Senor.

But Franco Barbaroza's crime
is not one of thievery or m*rder.

I fail to comprehend that
he has committed any crime.

Ah, Don Diego, you know
my business better than I?

You have changed from
reading poetry to books of law?

Every ranchero in California has
for years lived on the king's land.

If Franco Barbaroza is guilty, a
hundred others are equally guilty.

Exactly.

And they are being arrested as
rapidly as we can round them up.

Does our new Comandante
agree with this treatment?

He is here to
bring law and order.

Whose law?

I would suggest, Don Diego,

that you refrain from interfering
with the administration of justice

in this pueblo.

Rosarita, I guess there's
not much more we can do.

Is that the best you can do?

Perhaps if I wrote
to the governor...

Write a letter?

If I were a man, I
would do something,

and it wouldn't
be writing a letter!

Rosarita, I know
how you must feel...

What happened to you?

When you were a boy you wouldn't
have stood by while a man was tortured.

You're not half the man you were
when you were only ten years old!

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

No more credit, Sergeant.

Ah, amigos!

Well, if it isn't the
Sergeant himself.

I happened to be passing by when
I saw you in here. I said to myself,

"My good friends
would never forgive me

"if I did not stop and
have wine with them."

You are mistaken, Sergeant.
We could have easily forgiven you.

Well, at least we must drink to the success
of your new venture here in Los Angeles.

This is excellent,
amigos. Excellent.

It would taste even better
if one paid for it himself.

Next time it will
be my turn to buy.

I expect to become
wealthy quite soon.

Oh? How?

See that notice up there?

Hey!

Tonight I will capture
Zorro and claim the reward.

You? Capture that outlaw?

Of course, I have a
plan that cannot fail.

Tonight, when Zorro comes to the
grist mill to rescue Senor Barbaroza,

I will be hidden
in the enclosure.

When Zorro appears, I will
step forth and capture him.

Zorro will try to
rescue the prisoner?

Oh, I am certain of it.

Whenever there is an offense
against the people, Zorro rides.

Usually at night when
others are asleep.

Leon...

Leon, possibly the Sergeant
would like a little more wine, eh?

Oh, but certainly.
Gracias, amigos. Gracias.

Of course what I have just
told you must not be repeated.

Far be it for me
to discourage you,

but I don't think your plan
has a chance of succeeding.

Si. Zorro is no fool.

He will know someone will expect
him to make the rescue attempt.

He is not so stupid as to
walk into such an obvious trap.

You do not know
Zorro. He will come.

Think of the danger,
Sergeant. Zorro might k*ll you.

I do not think he would do
that. He has never done it before.

Please, Senor, can't
you hold your glass still?

It is making waves like
the... Like the you know what.

Like the what?

Like the...

You know, the...

You mean, uh, like
the ocean waves?

Please, Roberto, it is not
necessary to call it by name.

You should overcome your
fear of the ocean, Sergeant.

You know, Sergeant, uh, there
is nothing more wonderful than

a wonderful ocean
voyage on a ship.

Riding on the
beautiful ocean waves.

Please, amigos. For
my own sake, please...

We will take care
of you, Sergeant.

(MEN LAUGHING)

(GARCIA GROANS)

Amigos, what...

We want to keep the
Sergeant here for the night.

It's a joke, you know, eh?

I don't think I
should permit it.

Oh?

But, being only human, I am
always open to persuasion.

I am persuaded. Good.

Leon! Roberto! It's all
right now. I feel all right.

Let me out now! Please!

We will take over now.
Go get yourself some sleep.

Well, Roberto, get
yourself some sleep too.

I will stay here all alone and see
that the two-legged mule grinds wheat.

Good night, Leon.
See you in the morning.

We'll take over. You go
back to the barracks, eh?

Zorro, look out!

Out of the way, Roberto!

(g*nsh*t)

(GRUNTS)

Gracias, amigo. Muchas gracias.

Get as far away from here
as you can, as fast as you can.

Gracias, amigo.

Zorro!

Sergeant Garcia!

Bring on the lancers!
Bring on the lancers!

Coming, Comandante!

Bring on the lancers!

Let me never again hear of you
putting a man to do a mule's work,

or it will be the last
order you ever give.

Adios, Comandante.

Comandante! Oh, there you are.

You wanted something,
Comandante?

No, I did not want a thing.

You have let Senor
Barbaroza go to bed.

That is good, Comandante.

I was right. Zorro was here.

Comandante, that is just
what I said would happen.

NARRATOR: Next week, Ortega
enjoys a moment of evil triumph

only to have the
elusive Zorro escape.

But Tornado, his fiery stallion,
is captured and put up for sale.

You suppose he is fool
enough to risk exposure

by publicly bidding
on his own horse?

Join us next week when the
Walt Disney Studio presents

thrills and flaming
excitement in the life of Zorro!